Flush tank mechanism



Sept. 21, 1948. J. 5. MILNE FLUSH TANK MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 12, 1944 Sept. 21, 1948. J. s. MILNE FLUSH TANK MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1944 Tull/Ill!!! llll idi'ulllllilllllllllullnvl Illli'fllililllili Sept. 21, 1948. J. s. MILNE FLUSH TANK MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 12, 1944 I I I I 1 I I I I 1 1 I 1 I I 1 I l E n w x will;

substantially fewer parts are involved thanIhas her'etoforebeenthecase.

tion will appear asthe description proceeds.

show further details.

'i' erio r of the bowl 22 throuens'aid sleeve? r Ap libatiaiaiuiy' -ia isoig sri'ai fiibfq igi as. (012? This invention .relates .to

'nism..

' It is an object of my invention'ltclLprovi'deia novel guide and support forga. valve ball, whereby the up and down movement ofsaid ball-iinis .vice A isfa cilitated. f l v A further object resides in the prcvisiongdfa valve ballsupportand guiding means in'-which An additional object is'to'iprovidef a 'ilu'sh tank with an integral ball valve seat. .11. I Another object is to provide' a valve ball trip lever which is combmedwith the flush owrm a T v convenient position to befreadily operated'by io'ot '15 orbyhand. 1

It is also an object to provide a 'sealedijvalve ball control lever mounting; l Further objects and advantages of myiin'ven- The invention will be better understood -upon reference to the following description andthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a water closet :flushing mechanismemy" 'bo fi-b r w 55 M1 ?he d' l msd'eii s the an Wand engage a s al was er."

bodying features'oi myinvention, M

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary-sectional.viewitalgen as indicated by l ne 2- 2 n Fi Fig. 3 is aplan sectionalviewitalienf cated by the line 3-3 in Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectionial taken as indicated by the lined- .4 in Big: 1. 1 j

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentarysectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, but with an additional part in section to}showladfiitionalfde tails. H Fig. 6 is a view similarto Fig. lb lt of amodifled construction.

Figl 'i'is a fragmentary sectional view-taken as I I indicated by the line 1-1 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional-view 'taken ia's indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig fif M Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar'to a part of Fig. 6 but with an additional part'insection-to v Referring now more particularlyjtofthe drawing, there is shown at It! a vitreoiis' or otheii uit able fiushtank having] an overflow" tube 1; whi h may be integral With-thetank ill, -a n'd a dls e rge orifice i4 adapted'to communicate with tli libe "60' V W H in compression between the"bowl wall'iifi and anut 10 on the threaded outer end of thebearing sleeve ieri isai a c r ati f is indicated generally 1 at 23 and may be of'any suitable;construction. As disclosed herein ior..th'e purpose,of .illustration .only, the. ball itself may be a. hollow rubber 'mem- 5 ben "24 a having a Qtruncated .substantially, hemisphericalffiexiblevalve" portion i2 6 'adaptedto cooperate: witha spherically or otherwise tapered vvalve-seat 28 which is preierablyia'surfaceof the 'ceiv'e'd in a sleeve .38 which .is adaptedfalsoto extend through. the openin 3'0. and into the? inmterioraof the ball member MQA' sleeve guide surrounding andin slidingv engagementwith the exterior of the-sleeve 38v is held relativelystationary. {To' that end, the guide "40 is formedon or secured toa' bar or. arm 42 whichextendsinto is clamped in selectednosi'tions 0fadjiistifientby which prevents leakage of water through the bolt hole 48Hand whose other end is threaded in the arm n. -Th'e new more as .isgeiongeteam 'thjdi- V rectionlin whighthe a m 42 extends in 'order that the sleeve; 38 so that itwill not interfere with the r'dpers atm pf the ball member g lon the valve seat 28; ltdjustmerit of the sleeve guide All transverse .io a d; di t on an Ja ef cted b loosening the .bolt- 4-5 and; turning the arm A; to the hied 'ex pft'. e wtih axis f th be which thereafter canbe tightened.

e-l k b l ti l v ribr- .-i, b te has 9. mv s in a; bottom; .bearineisur- "396 i9 en a ement; with. ta '..sphericallymor otherwise oonvexly. rounded: {surface .54.: on. .the

edrivenenior. arm 56iofatripilever 58;; :The 'dr'iv- .en arm 561s disposed within the bowl 22, and is riveted i as at .60:"for otherwise rigidly connected to a rock=shaft62 which-is suppo'rted iri 'a-bjar ing sleve' 164 passing through.a vitical wall 65 di the-bowlH; A gasket Washer- 68 held "rider 6'4 prei ents leakage of water 'between'said sleeve and the bowll A removable keeper ring 11pm.-

" ji'ec'tiingfrom" a 'circuriiferentialgroove-in the rock 3 shaft 62 holds the shaft and sleeve 64 in the desired relation.

The shaft 62 extends outward substantially beyond the bearing sleeve 64 and is connected to rotate with the actuatin handle or driving arm 14 of the trip lever 58. To this end, the arm 1.4 may have a socket H3 in which the end 18 .of the shaft is received, the partsbeing held in assemblyby suitable means such as a screw 80. The socket 16 and end 18 may be square or otherwise shaped to preclude relative rotation. In order to prevent leakage of water between the shaft dz and the sleeve 64, I provide a gasket such as 'arubber or the like sleeve or ferrule 8 2 havingen eggternal flange 84 at one end which is c ornpiessed against the outer end of the sleeve 64 as by 'a gland nut 86 threaded on the sleeve '64 and, atthe other end, an internal flange 88 whichiscom'pressed between a shoulder 89 in the hub 90 of the driving lever arm 74 and --:a collar 92 non-"rhtatably fi ti ei he t... i dl18. and butt the shaft th'e'fiange 188 flbeingheld underminaotuatirrgfarin flfhasat its free eiida fiat r trid s- 4. oifsiubst n ij a i ei' ns d'b j'the hahdjor foot forfacilitating operation of the inn Th irielevir 1 s e m' l u s y in; he positionl sh'ofwn in; Fig. 11, with all or ubstantial p'art ofits han'dlelarea"9=i projecting "Provision "is made for "movement for the trip eve hro g ape q im e y Of a t m ur whic t d islii teda sub- I seatZB so tha-t' the d not befr'eseate d by the "permitting t flo'w of water 5 from the s 's'u'b o q tof'a s ight twist, bur -me: resistance it foilfers under these circumstances is" negligible,

particularly inasmuc sitshiametr is substanater t ll valif and the rubber'sleeveresumes its normal P's: h w 1. F fl- Th i' e dil f m""h "elighter than the driven arm 58,411; order to intdmatic return of the trip lever-to the "arm "14 saturat l'e'ssfthanthat of the arm es an news 38 "combined tojinsurethat res'ult.

exerted on the-sleeileflfifupon -*c pera .tio'n of the "t'rip lever is in' a direction substantiallyparallel to theakisbf said SIeevasdthat friction between 'saidsleeve and the-guide!!! is minimized. "Mo'reover,"inf view of the fact that the sleeve- Sit-rece'ives sucha relatively long portion of thevalve ball stem 32,-.the' ball is properly guided-in its movementsso'that italways comes to rest in sealing engagement with the valveseat 2 8. v,j 'lgv preclude-any possibility that the ball member might be thrownupward out of control, I proyide a stop tqilayvhioh is suitably heldas by bolt and nut means I02 on a lug I04 extending from anyfsuitablefpaijt of. the flush tank it}; such as holding 'ineans T02; thdstop "I GB maybe-adjusted to the desired position over the axis of the ball member. When it is desired to remove the ball member for any reason the bolt and nut means I02 may be loosened and the stop Hit] swung around to an out-of-the-way position,

A modified construction is shown in Fig. 6, wherein the discharge orifice Hi! and ball valve seat H2 are formed in a fitting H4 passing Lth r ougha bottom opening H6 in the tank H8.

The fitting has a tubular branch I20 serving to conduct water from the overflow tube I22 supported thereby to the discharge orifice Ill The "fitting is held in leak-proof assembly with the tank by means of a rubber or other suitable gask'et i24- lieldundr'compression against the upper rim I26 of th e tank opening H6 by a flange I28 on the fitting and a nut I30 threaded on the fitnag-ans engaging the bottom of the tank. The

nut "I39 is seated on a rubber or other suitable gasket [32 about the fitting EM and in the inlet 21} of the bowl 22. t H

Preferably cast integral with the fitting l-Hlis a spider I34 which does not interfere with the 'waterdischarge and has a h'ublfii'i serving'as a guide'for the ball stem sleeve 38. The operation of this structure Will be evident upon inspection and in view of the description above the reference to Fig.1.

'Astop arm Mt about the overflow tube I22 and having the functions of the stop lfio'is adapted to beheld in adjusted positions as by'a set screw I42, "and may be adjusted vertically also.

The ball member 24 may be adapted forcon- 'ventional use also by reason of the additional tl rea'ded'hole I441 opening upwardly.

Various modifications may suggestthemselv'es to those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of my invention, and, hence, I'donot wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or 'usesni'enti'oned, except to the'extent indicated inthe appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly'as'the state of the art will'permit.

t I claim:

1. Awa'ter closet flushing mechanism comprising a bowl; a flush tank mounted thereon and communicating by gravity therewith,a"v'alve for controlling the gravity flow of waterfromsaid tank to said bowl, and 'a trip lever rotatively mounted on said bowl and having an arm-within said bowl for opening said valve and aha'ndle outside saidbowl for actuation by hand or' foot. 2. Awater-closetfiushing mechanism comprisbowl, a flush tank'mounted thereon and communicatingtherewith, a valve for controlling the flow of water from said tank to said bowl, a

lever-rotatively mounted on said bowl and "having a'n'arm within said bowl for opening said valve in and handle outside said bowl'for actuation by hand or foot, said-valve including a ball member disposed tobe raised off the valveseat pursuant to operation of said trip lever, and

- rneans for limiting the extent of rising movement of said ball member,

3. Awater closet flushing mechanism comprising a bowl, a fiush tank mounted thereonand communicating therewith, a valve for-controlling theflow of water from said tank' to said bowl; a trip lever rotatively mcunted-0n-said-bowl-and having arr-arm within said bowl for opening said valve anda handle outside said bowl for actuation by hand or f00t,'said valve including a ball member adaptedjt be raised off the valveseat by said trip leverand a stem se'curedto said ball member andextending a substantial distance downwardly therefrom, and means for constraining said ball member to movement coaxially. with said stem, said means comprising a sleeve telescoping a substantial portion of the length of said stem and providing a bottom abutment for said stem, the bottom of said sleeve affording a bear ing surface engaged by said lever upon trippin thereof, and means guiding said sleeve.

4. A flush tank having a discharge orifice and valve seat, a ball cooperating with said seat and having a depending stem, a sleeve receiving said stem, means for guiding said sleeve in reciprocatory movement, means limiting upward movement of said sleeve relative to said ball, said sleeve having a bottom bearing surface, and a trip lever for raising said ball 011 said seat, said lever having a convex upper surface in slidin engagement with said bottom surface on said sleeve, and a toilet bowl having a portion enclosing said trip lever.

5. A flush tank, a bowl over which said tank is supported, a valve controlling flow from said tank to said bowl, anda trip lever for said valve, said lever having a driven arm within said bowl, a handle arm outside said bowl, and a rock shaft to which said arm and handle are joined, said wall having a transverse hole therethrough, a bearing sleeve disposed in said hole, and liquid sealing means associated with said bearing sleeve.

6. In a toilet flushing mechanism, a toilet bowl having a wall with a hole therethrough, a valve trip lever comprising a shaft in said hole and lever arms connected to the respective ends of said shaft inside and outside said bowl, a relatively stationary shaft journaling member in said hole, means preventing escape of liquid between said wall and said journaling member, and means preventing escape of liquid between said journalin member and said shaft.

7. A flush tank having a discharge orifice and a ball valve seat, a vertically movable ball cooperating with said seat, means for guiding said ball in its vertical movement away from and toward said seat comprising a vertically slideable member and a single fixgd member journaling the latter, means for adjusting said fixed guiding means in a plurality of directions so as to insure the establishment of the proper operative relation between said ball and seat, said guiding means confining said ball to substantially vertical movement irrespective of the adjustment of said guiding means, the guide and adjusting means bein disposed below the ball, and actuating means for tripping said ball off said seat.

8. A flush tank having a discharge orifice and a ball valve seat, a vertically movable ball cooperative with said seat, means for guiding said ball in its vertical movement away from and toward said seat, said guiding means consisting of a vertically slideable member engaging said valve and a single fixed member slideably engaging said slideable guide member to insure accurate vertical movement of the valve and to insure proper operative relation between the ball and seat, all of said parts being disposed in the bottom of said flush tank, and actuating means for tripping said ball oil said seat.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein the actuating means comprises a lever cooperable with said slideable guide means, said lever having wiping engagement with said slideable guide means transversely of the latters motion.

10. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein the actuating means comprises a lever cooperable with said slideable guide means, said lever having wiping engagement with said slideable guide means transversely of the latters motion, and a flush bowl enclosing said lever and slideable guide means.

JOHN S. MILNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 34,118 Neefus Jan. 7, 1862 213,835 Pohley Apr. 1, 1879 1,000,565 Watrous Aug. 15, 1911 1,083,319 Crawford Jan. 6, 1914 1,770,639 West et a1 July 15, 1930 1,807,139 Volodimorov May 26, 1931 2,016,840 Schubert Oct. 8, 1935 2,043,821 Williams June 9, 1936 2,206,235 Powers July 2, 1940 2,210,796 Crane Aug. 6, 1940 2,217,320 Romaine Oct. 8, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 748,433 France July 4, 1933 

